ENGLAND, down and out in the World Cup a year ago, beat world champions New Zealand with a performance of character and composure to book an unexpected place in next Saturday’s Gillette Four Nations final at Elland Road.

Tony Smith’s team lost twice to the Kiwis in Australia last year, in the group phase and the semi-finals, but had their revenge in a gruelling encounter.

All England could muster in the second half was a Kevin Sinfield penalty but after an inspired first half it was enough for them to qualify for their first final appearance since the 2004 Tri-Nations, when they lost to Australia.

England were superior in the physical collision, in which James Graham, Gareth Ellis, Sam Burgess and Eorl Crabtree led the way, and had the cutting edge out wide to regain a big measure of respect after the disappointment of a year ago.

They will be huge underdogs in a week’s time but the their minimum requirement in this tournament was handsomely fulfilled.

Earlier in the day, Australia cruised into the final with a commanding 42-4 victory over France in Paris.

England took the first steps to meeting them with three first-half tries in a first 40 minutes utterly at odds with their early collapse against the Kangaroos seven days earlier.

Sinfield was moved from loose forward to hooker in a late change that paid immediate dividends. The Leeds captain’s vision around the rucks furnished England with their initial impetus.

First halves have been England’s problem in this series but not last night as they took an 18-6 lead into the break.

The predicted duel between Burgess and Fuifui Moimoi did not disappoint and the rampaging Kiwi prop got the better of Adrian Morley in a challenge that prompted the England veteran’s temporary withdrawal.

In the 18st Huddersfield Giant Eorl Crabtree, however, England had the ideal replacement.

Crabtree began chucking the New Zealand forwards around like rag dolls, and despite a 7-5 penalty count against them, the home side got on the front foot.

Sinfield’s scampering run and Burgess beating two tackles and offloading to Kyle Eastmond brought the diminutive scrum-half a try after 10 minutes on his full international debut.

New Zealand responded four minutes later, when Peter Fox’s ill-advised charge off his wing resulted in a straightforward try for Bryson Goodwin, who miscued the conversion but landed a subsequent penalty.

Fox responded admirably with a brace of tries before half time.

He owed the first to Sam Tomkins’ improvisation on the last tackle when the stand-off sent a kick sailing over Goodwin’s head into the wing’s outstretched arms.

When Ben Matulino knocked on, Eastmond and Chris Bridge combined from the resulting scrum for Fox to touch down out wide.

New Zealand were immediately out of the traps after half-time and pulled a try back within two minutes.

Their lively hooker Isaac Luke made substantial ground down the middle of the pitch and the ball was worked wide from Junior Sau out to the unstoppable Matulino.

Goodwin’s conversion made it 18-12 and the game turned into one of cat and mouse as England tried desperately to hold on to their advantage.

Star man: Kevin Sinfield (England)

Scorers: England: Tries: Eastmond 9, Fox 35, 39 Goals: Sinfield (4) New Zealand: Tries: Goodwin 14, Matulino 41 Goals: Goodwin (2)

Referee: T Alibert (France) Attendance: 19,390

England: S Briscoe; P Fox, C Bridge, M Shenton, R Hall; S Tomkins, K Eastmond; A Morley, K Sinfield, J Graham, J Peacock (capt), G Ellis, S Burgess

New Zealand: L Hohaia; S Perrett, K Foran, J Sau, B Goodwin; B Marshall (capt), N Fien; F-P Nuuausala, T Leuluai, F Moimoi, I Soliola, F Pritchard, A Blair